Improvement in spark-conductors for railroad-trains



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

REUBEN VRIGHT, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPARK-CONDUCTORS FOR RAILROAD-TRAINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 89,371, dated April 27, 1869.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, REUBEN WRIGHT, of Houston, in the county of Harris, and in the State of Texas, have invent-ed a new and iinproved mode otl arresting and extinguishing sparks of a locomotive steam-engine and of conducting the smoke, ashes, and cinders from the locomotive to the rear of a train; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in providing a horizontal flue in sections, leading from the smoke-stack of a locomotive to the rear of a train, with other devices, hereinafter explained, for engaging and disengaging the sections thereof, whereby to arrest and extinguish sparks and conduct the smoke, ashes, and cinders to the rear.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

Figure 1 represents a side view of a train with my improvement attached; Fig. 2, allongitudinal section of a car.

A represents the locomotive; B, the tender; O, a car; E E E, pipes or sections of the horizontal ue, with enlarged ends e e e placed on the top of cars, tender, and locomotive. One end of the section on the latter covers a hole of corresponding size in the back ofthe smokestack, to which it is riveted by a ange.

h is a damper, by which the direction of the draft is regulated by the engineer. It is hinged in the smokestack,ahove the flue, in such a manner that when down it closes the fine and leaves the smoke-stack open for the draft in the usual manner. lhen thrown up it closes that part of the smoke-stack which is above the flue, opens the flue, and turns the draft through it.

F is the coupling between sections of the horizontal Hue.

H is the standard for holding the coupling ata proper height. Atits upper end the standard is forked, and between its prongs is hung a conical ring, G, whose larger ends fits loosely over the rear end of the forward pipe ot' the flue. vThe smaller end of the conical ring tits loosely in the funnel-shaped end of the coupling F, and is attached to it in such amanner that the coupling, conical ring, and forked end of the standard form a universal joint. The straight end of thecoupling has severalguides, fwhich, in connecting guide it into the enlarged front end of the rear pipe of the line. By means of the universal joint the coupling can accommodate itself' to theA motions ot' the cars. 'The ues are here firmly secured to top of the cars. rlhe standard, with the coupling, is removable, so that itcan be attached ateither end of a car. The funnel-shaped ends of the couplings must always point to thefront of the train, making them catch up and conducting into the fine a current of air, thereby increasing its power of draft.

l) is another kind of coupling, where its straight end is surrounded by a spiral spring, d, one end of which is securely fastened to the funnel-shaped end of the coupling and the other end to the enlarged frontend of the rear pipe of the fine, thus forming an elastic joint.

As the funnel-shaped end of the couplingmust always point to the front of the train to increase the power of draft, as above described,

it sometimes becomes necessary to reverse the ends of the pipe. To this end the pipes are placed in seats, but are not fastened to the top of the cars. In themiddle of the pipe arod, K, is fastened immovably to it, and runs through the top of the car a short distance downward. Inside of the car and securely fastened to its top is a hanging support, L, with three circular disks, i" s t, with eyesin their centers, that serve as guides to the rod K. A short distance from its lower end the rod has an eye, where a curved lever, I, is attached bya pin. This lever serves a double purpose: first, to raise the pipe from and out of its seats and then reverse it; and, secondly, to hold the pipe down in its seats when in proper position. The disk r serves as the fulcrum for the lever. The disk s, as well as the disk t, has two slots at opposite sides, forming latches in which the lever is held by the weight of the pipe, at the same time preventing any motion of the latter. When it is desired to reverse the ends of the pipe the lever is pressed down, which raises the pipe out of its seats. Moving the lever now a little to one side slides it under the disk s, which upholds the weight ofthe pipe until the movement is completed, when the lever is raised and put in the opposite latches, lowering the pipe into its seats and holding it in its place. 2. The coupling D, with the spiral spring d, The advantages of a horizontal flue leading in combination with the end e of the" pipe E,

from the smoke-stack of a locomotive-engine substantially as described.

to Ithe rear of a train, as above described, con- 3. The hanging support L, in combination sist; in preventing risk of re from sparks, savwith the lever I, rod K, and pipe E, substaning passengers from the annoyance of smoke tially as set forth.

and cinders, and increasing` the power of draft. f

What I claim as my invention, and desire to REUBEN WRIGHT. secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the coupling F, guides Witnesses: f, conical ring G, and standard H, substan- CHARLES HERRON, tiall7 as set forth. 1 B. EDW. J. EILS. 

